Lighting device



Patented 4May 26, 1942 LIGHTING DEVICE Louis G. Boomsma, New York, N. Y. Application June 17, 1939, Serial l\lo.v2'19,602v

1 Claim;

This application relates to. lighting devices and more particularly to connectors, clips 4 and sockets for these devices.

It is one object oi my invention to provide a mounting for tubular lamps whereby the tube may be changed as easily as an ordinary Edison base lamp.

It is another object of my invention to arrange a series' of lamps of `the tubular type, and having the bases insulated so as to avoid danger of shock.

It is another object of my invention to allow easy replacement of one lamp in `a series withoutl disturbing the rest.

It is another object of my invention to provide a coupling between tubes used in series to pro-l vide a good electrical connection, safe against shock, and yet without iixed parts.

It is another object oi my invention to eliminate the necessity of complicated bases on lamps of this type, and to provide instead a base which is easily used.

It is further an object of my invention to provide clips for holding L tubes in either cove lighting systems or in ceiling lights, from which clips the tubes may be readily removed.

It is another object of my invention to provide a series of lamps each short enough to handle easily in stock, shipment and replacement and mounted so as to give light eil'ect oi con-f tinuous tube.

It is further an object of my invention to permit the replacement oi tubes in either cove lights or ceiling lights ywithout the use of tools.

In the past it has been inconvenient to use high voltage long tubes in ordinary room lighting because ofthe insulating diiiiculties due to high voltage, and the necessity of having a skilled installation man replace defective or burnt out tubes. By employing. the type of sockets and clips which I have described in this application, it is possible for anyone, without t he use of tools to replace'any of the standard lightswhich I am proposing to use.

In the drawings: y

Fig. 1 shows a lighting installation embodying sockets and retaining clips in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 5 is another form of clip for a ceiling light; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of twostraight tubes connected by a connector made in accordance with my invention; 1

Fig. 7 is a view of a straight tube with mushroom connectors in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 8 is an elevation view of a method of connecting all tubes to `give the effect of a continuous tube;

\ Fig. 9 shows an end view of a troughk installation made in accordance with my invention; and Fig. 10 shows a top view of such an installation Yshowing the common terminal at one end and the clips holding the intermediate tubes in place.

Referring first to Fig. 1, I have shown a lighting installation using both straight tubes 3, 3,

and L type tubes 2,1. e., those having a straight f portion and a short part at each end which is at right angles to the main portion of the tube, as the tube 2. As shown, the intermediate socket l has a single Vmetal plate 9 and a single spring 8, and is free to assume'any position to contact :both tubes 2-2. The end sockets 5 are identical with the socket I, excepting that they have but one outletgand are connected to the supply circuit. The straight tube 3 is shown with an ordinary mushroom terminal l0 at one end, and a special terminal which incorporates a spring 8a at the other. This permits the use oi' a fixed length socket arrangement. The tube is inserted by merely compressing the spring 8a at the one end into the socket 6 and then allowing the other end to iit into its socket 1 partly releasing the spring 8 in so doing. It may be readily seen that the tube will nt tightly between the sockets 6 and 1, and will be continually urged into close contact with these sockets by the spring 8. It may also be seen that the sockets instead oi having the usual complicated spring arrangements need but beinsulating cups with the metal disk contact in the bottom. It

'may be seen that not only is the construction instead ot one tube as shown in Fig. 1, several Fig. 2 is an enlarged 4view of one form oi socket tubes, and these tubes may be connected by a connector of the type 2| shown in Fig. 6. This connector provides a spring connection I6 insuring good contact, and requires no skill in connecting, and prevents anyone touching the tube while it is operating from getting an electrical shock.

In the above I have treated the series of tubes 3-3 as one. It is an advantage of the connec- May 26, 1942. v l.. G.Boo MsMA 2,284,363

LIGHTING' DEVICE Filed June 17, 1,959 v 2 Sheets-Sheet l 

